Suicide deaths in US reached new height in 2022

Key takeaways:

• The number of annual suicides in the U.S. has risen 2.6% since 2021.
• Rates decreased in young people and American Indian/Alaska Native people.

Annual suicide deaths in the United States hit nearly 50,000 in 2022, reaching an all-time high, according to provisional data from the CDC.

“The troubling increase in suicides requires immediate action across our society to address the staggering loss of life from tragedies that are preventable,” CDC’s Chief Medical Officer Debra Houry, MD, MPH, said in a press release. “Everyone can play a role in efforts to save lives and reverse the rise in suicide deaths.”

After a brief reprieve when suicide rates declined in 2019 and 2020, total suicides in the U.S. rose to 48,183 in 2021 — a 5% increase — the CDC previously reported. Suicide deaths again rose to an estimated 49,449 in 2022, translating to an increase of 2.6%.

“Nine in 10 Americans believe America is facing a mental health crisis. The new suicide death data reported by CDC illustrates why. One life lost to suicide is one too many. Yet, too many people still believe asking for help is a sign of weakness,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in the release. “We must continue to eliminate the stigmatization of mental health and make care available to all Americans.”

Notably, two groups saw a decline: people aged 10 to 24 years (8.4% decline) and American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people (6.1% decline). Prior research has shown that AI/AN people face disparities in this area; from 2015 to 2020, suicide rates among AI/AN people increased nearly 20%, compared with a less than 1% increase in the general U.S. population.

The CDC also broke down suicide rates by demographics. The agency reported that from 2021 to 2022, suicide deaths among women rose from 9,825 to 10,194 — an increase of 3.8%. Suicide deaths for men rose from 38,358 to 39,255 — 2.3% — in the same time frame.

Among racial and ethnic groups, data showed that suicide deaths for white people rose 2.1% to 37,459 deaths, the rate for Black people rose 3.6% to 3,825 deaths, the rate for Hispanic or Latino people rose 4.3% to 5,120 deaths, the rate for Asian people rose 5.7% to 1,458 deaths, the rate for multiracial people rose 7.9% to 681 deaths and the rate for Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander rose 15.9% to 95 deaths.

“Today’s report underscores the depths of the devastating mental health crisis in America. Mental health has become the defining public health and societal challenge of our time. Far too many people and their families are suffering and feeling alone,” U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD, MBA, said in the release. “These numbers are a sobering reminder of how urgent it is that we further expand access to mental health care, address the root causes of mental health struggles, and recognize the importance of checking on and supporting one another.”

Anyone in crisis can contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by texting or calling 988 or reaching out online at 988lifeline.org.

References:

• Provisional suicide deaths in the United States, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2023/s0810-US-Suicide-Deaths-2022.html. Published Aug. 10, 2023. Accessed Aug. 11, 2023.
• Suicide data and statistics. https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/suicide-data-statistics.html. Published Aug. 10, 2023. Accessed Aug. 11, 2023.